Melting pot for light metals and alloys thereof



' March 26, 1929. 1. 2. .HOY 1, 7,1

MELTING POT FOR LIGHT METALS AND ALLOYS manner Filed Jan. 14, 1926 IN! 'EN TOR.

162221- f. flay BY A TTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 26, 19290 1,707,161 PATENT OFFIGE,

JOHN E. BOY, OF MIDLAND, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY,

. OF MIDLAND, MICHIGAN, A

CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

Application filed January The present improvements relating, as indicated, to a metal melting furnace, have more particular regard to the provision of a furnace suitable for melting light metals and a alloys thereof, such as magnesium and alloys in which magnesium is the predominant con- 'stituent. It is unnecessary to note that the melting of magnesium and the handling of the molten product presents special diflicul- 1o ties. lhe object of the invention is to provide an arrangement of melting pots wherein a considerable body of the metal may be maintained in molten state without undue exposure to the atmosphere and. yet such metal 115 may be readilywithdrawn for use as required in casting into molds or for other purposes.

' To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, conac sists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawing and the following description setting forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disas closed means constitutin howevenbut one of various mechanical orms in which the principle oi" the invention may be used.

in said anneued' drawing The single figure there appearing is a cenl tral vertical section through a melting furnace embodying my present improved con structionand arrangement of melting pot.

ltelerring to said drawing, the turnace, it will be seen, is built up of the usual briclr walls 1 so as to provide a main chamber 2 and a supplemental chamber 3 through which the heating gases from the burner 4C, or equiv,

alcnt source, will pass in parallel. A melting main chamber 2 and serves to close d the same save for a suitable laterally opening exit due (or fines) d. A second smaller pot 7 is supported in the supplemental chamber 3 below and in horizontally odset relation with till pot is set into the upper portion of said 14, 1928. Serial No. 81,240.

cover 10 securely clamped to the peripheral edge of said pot. This cover 10 carries a rotary paddle or equivalent stirring device 11, the shaft 120i which projects above the cover and is providedwith a crank 13 or equiva- ,eo lent operating means. Said cover also carries adepending tube 14- sealed at its lower end into which a thermometer may be inserted in orderto determine the temperature of the molten metal in the pot.

In addition to the foregoing accessories, said cover is provided'with a normally closed opening 15 through which small quantities of metal, more particularly of alloying ingredients, may be introduced into the pot, it being understood that for the purpose of introducing into the latter the main charge of metal, the cover 10 will be lifted off. A second opening 16 may also be provided in said cover, as shown, with a weighted cap 17 to serve as a safety vent in the event of the occurrence of an excessive pressure within the pot,

Adjacent its bottom said main pot 5 is formed with a lateral discharge opening 18 so that is controlled by a reciprocable valve or stopper 19, the stem 20 ot which projects horizontally through the adjacent furnace wall 1. A compression spring 21, coacting with said stem,.normally seats valve 19, but as b pressing downwardly on a treadle 2E2), suita ly connected with said stem through the medium of a link 23 and bell cranlr 24, the valve may beopened, as will be readily understood. lt will be noted that the lower end of the thermometer receiving tube 14 extends downwardly nearly into the passage 18 and so enables the thermometer therein to register the temperature of the metal as it is actually beingdischarged from the pot.

A downwardly directed nozzle 25 is attached to the outlet opening 18 on the valve 19, such nozzle being located centrally over the supplemental pot '2' so that the metal will discharge directly into the latter. The upper 10( edge of such supplemental pot 7, it will be noted, lies substantially on a level with the door or working platform 26 whereon the furnace operator will stand, and the treadle 22 is likewise supported on such floor. Ac- 5 cordingly, molten metal in said pot 7 may be readily dipped out by throwing open door 9 and similarly when it is desired to transfer metal from the main melting pot to the supplemental pot, the mechanism for operating the case of the supplemental pot, a coatingof flux Will desirably be provided, although the gases of combustion that pass around and over said/pot willsimilarly serve as a blanket-- ing medium to prevent undue oxidation of the metal Whether it is being transferred from the main pot to the supplemental pot or is being removed from the latter in the fashion above described. 7

Other modes oi applying the principle of 'my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means he employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. In a metal melting furnace, the combination of a main chamber, a supplemental chamber, a melting pot supported in the 11pper portion of said main chamber with its top accessible externally'of said chamber and having a valve controlled gravity discharge opening, and a second pot supported in said supplemental chamber in position to receive metal discharged from said first pot.

2. In a metal melting furnace, the combination of a main chamber, a supplemental chamber connected for the parallel passage therethrough of aportion of the heating gases, a melting pot supported in the upper portion of said main chamberwith its top accessible externally of said chamber and having a gravity discharge opening, a valve operable from Without said furnace adapted to control such opening, and a second pot supported in said supplemental chamber in position to receive metal discharged from said first pot, said furnace being provided with a door affordin access both to the discharge opening of said first pot and to said second pot.

Signed by me this 8th day of January, 1926.

JOHN E. HOY. 

